NZ Photographer Issue 6 by Espire Media

Issue 6

October 21st 2009

Helping you take better pictures

Street Art ESSAY WINNER to improve

SIMPLE TIPS

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY

How to:

SHOOT MACRO SHOTS

Critiqued 1

NZ Photographer

Sept 30

YOUR IMAGES

CONTENTS 19. 5.

SIMPLE TIPS TO IMPROVE

EVENTS JULY CALENDAR C JULY

ALEN

Exhibiti on – 10am-4 Back :30pm Lop Exhibiti dell House on – Linger 10am-4 :30pm Exhibiti Lopdell on – House From The Vau 9:30amlt 4:30pm Snow White Gallery

Exhibiti on – 10am-4 Back :30pm Lop Exhibiti dell House on – Linger 10am-4 :30pm Lopdell on – House From The Vau 9:30amlt 4:30pm Snow White Gallery

Exhibiti

12 Exhibiti on – 10am-4 Back :30pm Lop Exhibiti dell House on – Linger 10am-4 :30pm Lopdell House

Exhibiti on – 10am-4 Back :30pm Lop Exhibiti dell House on – Linger 10am-4 :30pm Lopdell House

DAR

Exhibiti on – 10am-4 Back :30pm Lop Exhibiti dell House on – Linger 10am-4 :30pm Exhibiti Lopdell on – House From The Vau 9:30amlt 4:30 Snow pm White Gallery

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ADDR ESSES Lopde ll House 418 Titi rangi Rd, Titiran gi Unitec Bldg 1, Gate 1, Carrin gton Rd , Mt Alb ert, Au cklan

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HIBITIO Let us NS: Do Due Out know ! you ha at Ca Issue club or lenda ve an 2 r@nzph society exhib ition or here! otogra where Email pher.co. photo your nex clubs@ graph nz. PH t meetin nzpho ic eve OTOG tograp g is. List nt on RAPH anyw her.co ing in IC CLU here in .nz wit this cat BS: List h detail NZ? egory your ph s of wh is entire otogra o you ly free! phic are an d when and

15.

STREET ART

9. MACRO PHOTOGRAPHY

13.

SIZED UP

20.

COOL STUFF

Editorial C

an you believe that Christmas is just around the corner? Yikes! The good thing is that the longer days give us all more light to play with, and summer holidays are great photo opportunities. After our Christmas issue we’ll be taking a few weeks off at NZ Photographer

to recharge our batteries, and while we’re resting up we’ll be asking you to capture your holidays for an essay competition – anyone who reads this editorial section has now got a heads up, so start planning your holiday shots (and perhaps your holidays!?) so you can really capture what it’s all about to go on a summer holiday in NZ!

LETTERS

I returned to a happy, giggling little girl enjoying her own expressions and perspective in its LCD screen… she had obviously learned how to review and critique her Issue 4

Dear NZ Photographer,

I am really enjoying the magazine and you

and fun. I have had a knee operation, so

9 2009

own works, and with some delight, I might add.

CONgraTu laTIONS TO Our eSSa y COmPeTIT ION

have challenged me to get out my compact and try its macro settings! Very challenging

September

WINNer!

WITH HelP

somewhere as perhaps she may be amongst your youngest enthusiasts and contributors.

HOW TO:

PHOTOgraPH

CaPTurINg

I hope you may be able to feature her work

STreeT arT

Kind regards,

FrOm THe

disappointed that I wasn’t able to get out

Georgia’s Dad

e O rO P : m SH uS O P l O T T IP S PH

and do the street art essay... about my win

Editor: Well, Georgia’s Dad, we love to see young

in issue 4, it was so exciting and I know that heaps of my friends

Kiwis getting into photography, and we’re only too

have subscribed! Kind regards,

happy to encourage their enthusiasm – who knows, we

Kathy Seaward

may ignite a passion?! One of Georgia’s shots features

Editor: That’s great Kathy, great to know you’re spreading the

in our critique section in this issue, so celebrate with

word about NZ Photographer. Plenty of competitions to come.

her in her success, but hand over the NZ Photographer binoculars she won – they belong to Georgia!

Georgia. The composition of her self portrait images is entitled ‘Waiting for Dad’; these images were recorded in a 2-3 minute sequence (Dec 2008) while briefly waiting for her dad. Although she had become quite accustomed to the use of a digital camera since an early age (watching Mum and Dad) this was in fact the first time she had ever retrieved the camera from the glove box, turned it on, then let her imagination guide her… all on her own.

Typo Watch:

Issue 5 stated that the Macro Competition was an Open competition, but then the rules stated that the photo had to be taken on a Compact Camera. The rule was incorrect – the Macro competition is definitely an Open competition. Thanks to the eagle-eyed person who pointed that out to me! Once again, the Macro competition is an Open category competition. Any camera can be used to capture the photo that you submit.

ABOUT Whether you’re an enthusiastic weekend snapper or a beginner who wants to learn more, NZ Photographer is the fun e-magazine for all Kiwi camera owners – and it’s free! EDITOR

ADDRESS WEBSITE

Ollie Dale, ANZIPP

editor@nzphotographer.co.nz GROUP EDITOR Trudi Caffell ART DIRECTOR Jodi Olsson ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Phone Richard on 09 523 4112 or email richardl@espiremedia.com

NZ Photographer, C/- Espire Media, PO Box 137162, Parnell, Auckland 1151, NZ www.nzphotographer.co.nz

NZ Photographer is an Espire Media publication

NZ Photographer

Attached are the amateur works of my 4-year-old daughter

Sept 30

Dear NZ Photographer,

Simple Tips

Part One By Sam Woolford

to improve your photography

veryone has seen that image that quite literally stops

details; the human brain instantly knows what it finds

you in your tracks . . . It’s so spectacular that it

appealing. Of course, everybody is different, and people do

doesn’t matter where you are – in a gallery, reading

like different things, however, there are a few basic rules that

a magazine, or just perusing a friend’s photo album. It

are universally acceptable. If you take the time to understand

immediately appeals and you linger on the image, taking in

how the brain thinks and reacts to images in general, and then

the detail. It could be the colours, the composition or the angle

certain parts of a photograph, your photography will have

– you’re not really sure... Actually it doesn’t matter what the

already improved.

reason, you just can’t tear yourself away from the image. This (in a nutshell) is the aim of any photographer – to

I use the word ‘rule’ very loosely: there is no law saying this is how it must be done. Photography is not a black-and-white

capture something that appeals visually and that makes people

science, it is an art, and with this comes plenty of grey area

look further into the image. With a little practice, a well-

to be explored. The following are just guidelines to remember.

constructed and visually appealing image (like that described

While the best photographers know these ‘rules’ inside and

above) can be created by applying a few simple techniques.

out, their best images are often created from pushing the

Before delving into these techniques you need to understand that the human brain is constantly absorbing and processing

boundaries and exploring the surrounding grey area. The rule of thirds: Imagine looking through your view finder;

information, often subconsciously. Within a split second of

cut the image into three using two horizontal lines, and do the

viewing a picture you are immediately drawn to specific

same with two vertical lines. This will give you nine equal squares.

With a

little practice,

a well-constructed

image... can be

& visually appealing

created by applying a few simple techniques.

The aim of the rule of thirds is to place your focal point on

eyes will either look from one side of a photo to the other,

the intersection of any of these lines. This will ensue that your

or automatically into the centre. Your brain can be lazy, and

focal point is never in the middle of the image, but slightly to

in a sense you can trick it or help it see what you want it to.

one side. This is immediately more pleasing to the eye, and

This means you should decide on your focal point, and use

will give your photo a better composition.

something in the image to create leading lines to direct the

It’s very simple, if you place something in front of your nose you go cross eyed; it’s visually uncomfortable. The same thing can apply when looking at a photograph. NB: When taking an action photo, form your image using the

viewer’s eyes towards it. This could be objects in the local environment of the image, the movement of elements in the image, shadows or patterns. Avoid placing the leading lines too far into the

rule of thirds, and make sure to dedicate the largest part of the

middle of the image as they can take the emphasis away

image to the direction your participant is heading. It will give an

from what you’re trying to photograph. Be careful because

idea of movement and action to the image, and is more pleasing

there is a fine line between framing a picture and the

to the brain as it gives the action somewhere to go.

‘frame’ becoming the centre of attention (especially if it’s in

NZ Photographer

the foreground of the image).

Sept 30

Framing and Leading Lines: If framed correctly your

Focal Points: Before you get trigger happy and rattle off hundreds of pictures, take a moment to decide: what are you actually taking a photo of? The focal point of the picture needs to be the most important thing in the image. One way you can do this is to mentally split your picture into two sections: the foreground and the background. Essentially your brain can only process one part of the picture at a time, so it is either the foreground or the background, and in

stand slightly to the side, then use the background to fill the

which order is dependent on

rest of the picture. This will give your picture background

how you compose your photo. This is a great technique to remember when taking those pictures destined for the family photo album. If you want a family photo zoom in close and ensure that the people fill up the majority of the picture. This will immediately draw the focal point to the front of the image. Alternatively apply the rule of thirds’ and have the people

emphasis. The balance between foreground and background will be purely dependant on how close you zoom in or how far away you are from the foreground. Remember: the focal point of your image doesn’t need to be the centre of the image. To be continued in Issue 7... out on 11th November 2009

Workshop Series

Bringing the knowledge to you.

NZ Photographer is pleased to announce the dates of our first Workshop Series... If you like NZ Photographer, you’ll love these workshops! Basic Photography 1 Camera Basics Camera Presets Portrait Tips Using the Flash Using Macro Camera Angles

+ the Latest Magazine Reviewed

(Bring your camera!)

90 min/ $40 Sat 21st Nov 10 - 11:30am

Basic Photography 2

Composition Rule of Thirds Megapixel vs. Megabyte Photo Editing Software

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90 min / $40 Sat 21st Nov 12 - 1:30pm

! l a i t n e s s E s g n i Pre-book

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90 min / $40 Sat 12th Dec 10 - 11:30am

Post Production Skills 2 Advanced Photoshop Techniques

+ the Latest Magazine Reviewed

90 min/ $40 Sat 12th Dec 12 - 1:30pm

Workshops held at Studio 3D, 93 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland, in association with PhotoNZ Ltd. Come and meet other subscribers, ask questions and get tricks & tips to improve your images! 7

NZ Photographer

Sept 30

ditor@nzphotographer.co.nz h co nzz Limited seats for each workshop, so book now! Email editor@nzphotographer.co.nz editor@nzphotographer ed editor@nzphotographer.co. i or@nzphotographer.co. itor@ @nzphotographer photograp g pher.co.nz

HOW TO: Shoot Macro Photography Up Close and Personal By Ollie Dale

here’s a certain beauty to close-up or macro photography

which is images enlarged by several times or more when captured

that always turns heads – seeing something small, captured

by a digital sensor.

in a moment and enlarged so you can examine and enjoy its

detail, really brings a new reality to your images. But not many camera owners understand how to achieve this

Enough geek-speak – what does it really mean? Macro photography is getting up close and personal with your

new world of photography. A couple of years ago I ran some

subject. It’s all about the photographic reproduction of small objects

hour-long courses for digital camera owners, and included

or parts of objects. It’s also more difficult than you’d think.

a section entitled “What does the flower button do?” – the amount of people I had come up to me afterwards and thank

Can I do macro photography?

me for explaining a question they had “always wanted to know

Like all general questions, the answer is “it depends...” – it depends

the answer to” was staggering!

on the equipment you have and the subject you want to photograph. Point and shoot digital cameras can have remarkable macro

Macro photography is defined as images close to life size when

owners sigh collectively) you want an SLR camera, as it will allow you

captured by the digital sensor, as opposed to micro photography,

to attach purpose-built macro lenses and control your image taking.

NZ Photographer

capabilities, but for the best results (hear all the compact camera

Sept 30

So what is macro photography and how can you do it?

There’s a

certain beauty

to close-up or macro photography that

always turns heads

field. (See NZ Photographer Issue 2 for an explanation of some

If you own a point-and-shoot with a flower button on it (somewhere

basic photographic terms, including depth of field). Here’s a great

– manufacturers have no industry guidelines for where specific

way to show you why this occurs: hold your right index finger just

buttons should go, and as such they can be a bit difficult to find),

in front of your nose, and focus on your fingerprint. Notice, as your

then your camera has the capability of focussing on objects very

eyes start to water and other people in the room look at you with

close to the end of the lens. Consult your camera’s manual if you

that “here they go again” expression, that even though it’s hard

are unsure if your model supports macro photography.

to focus on your finger, the rest of the room has gone completely

Here’s the how to:

blurry. That’s a short depth of field in action.

Find a small object to photograph – if you’re new to macro

So, focussing correctly and on the most important part of your

photography pick something that won’t move in a hurry. Learning

image is crucial to a successful macro shot. To achieve this you’ll

to shoot macro with grasshoppers as subjects will more than likely

need to at least consider using a tripod and manual focus, which is

drive you to drink. I suggest a wristwatch, a piece of stationery, a

NZ Photographer

really the domain of the SLR camera.

Sept 30

One effect of macro photography is an extremely short depth of

sandwich from your lunchbox or similar. Jewellery is great because it’s an attractive subject to see up close. Put your item in bright light and your camera on a tripod – macro photography is hyper-sensitive to camera shake, so the more light you have available to you the better. If you have an off-camera flash, try using that as well. Attach a macro-capable lens to your SLR camera, or choose macro mode on your compact. For SLR owners – depending on your subject, choose an aperture that provides the right amount of depth of field. In extreme close-ups a difference of 1mm can mean your object is out of focus. Experiment with different f-stops to see which works best for your subject and the effect you’re after. Picking the right part of your image to be in focus is key to a good macro shot! If your camera supports a live view mode, use it to perfect your focus. If you’re shooting on a compact camera, carefully select your

focus point and push the shutter release button half-way down to focus, then re-compose your shot before fully pressing the button. Other than these points, experimentation is your best friend. Different lenses will give you different results, and different cameras have different macro settings, so be prepared to shoot a lot of images to get the result you want.

This article contributed by Ollie Dale, a professional photographer based in Parnell, Auckland, and a qualified member of the

NZ Photographer

Sept 30

NZIPP (Commercial). More details can be found on his website, www.photonz.com

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF MACRO Single-image Competition

Re-read the ‘How To’ in this issue, brush up your skills

quality canvas at almost any size! Hang your photography

with lots of experimentation, and illustrate something in

around your home or office, or make highly personalised

an interesting way. Submit your best image to

gifts for friends, relatives and those people who seem to have

competitions@nzphotographer.co.nz

everything. Order your canvas online at www.photonz.com.

Entry Deadline:

5pm, 2nd November 2009

Competition Rules:

Winner Published:

Issue 7

•

ur next Single Image competition is Macro Photography.

•

Get your image published and be the cover of Issue 7.

•

Have your winning image printed on Canvas, thanks to

PhotoNZ.com can get your favourite images printed on high-

subscriber to NZ Photographer. •

PhotoNZ.com •

Plus, with summer just around the corner, get your greasy

The image should be emailed at a minimum of 100dpi, 20cm wide.

•

hands on this wicked BBQ set, care of our friends at Brand Storming Promotions.

You can enter only one image, and only if you are a

The image you enter must have been taken on or after September 30th 2009.

•

You as the photographer will retain all copyrights to the image. By entering your image you grant NZ Photographer

Brand Storming Promotions provides unique and pretty cool

a non-exclusive license to use the image in the magazine

apparel and promotional merchandise for any corporate event •

something branded with your logo, check out their website at

to any third party for any reason. •

The judge’s decision is final, and is not open for debate.

NZ Photographer

www.bsp.co.nz

NZ Photographer will not sell or make available the image

Sept 30

or marketing strategy. To promote your business or to get

and on the website www.nzphotographer.co.nz.

Sized Up

Judges: Bruce Gabites and Ollie Dale

Your Work Critiqued

here’s no better way to learn than by having your work

photographer ever to have won the prestigious Kodak Gold Award

critiqued! In this section you get to have your work critiqued

(Wedding Album Category) in eight successive years. See

by two professional photographers.

www.finephotography.co.nz for more information.

Bruce Gabites is a NZ Institute of Professional Photography

Ollie has been a professional photographer for 6 years,

Qualified Master of Photography who undertakes a wide

and has had clients such as the NZ Herald, Visa, Microsoft,

variety of photographic assignments. A “people” photographer,

Westpac, Unitec and BMW. He is also a qualified commercial

he’s photographed hundreds of weddings in New Zealand

member of the New Zealand Institute of Professional

and internationally since 1995. He’s the only New Zealand

Photography (NZIPP).

Camera: Sony DSC-W120 Shutter Speed: 1/5th sec Aperture: f2.8 ISO: 125

BRUCE’s Comments: The great thing that this four year old may have figured out is that the key to most portraits is “the eyes”. With most images we want to exclude distracting elements from a composition. A little attention before shooting could have taken care of all those stray hairs that distract OP1

the viewer from the eye - the eye being the central focus of the image. Focusing is a bit off too but hey for

Ollies Comments:

a four year old I think this is a pretty

Well said Bruce – the

good effort.

eyes have it! What I

Versions OP1 and OP2 show how, by

love is seeing a four

a bit of Photoshop wizardry, we can

year old playing with

fix up these problems to some extent

a camera and already

firstly by sharpening the eye and

learning what works

secondly by removing the distracting

and what doesn’t! While

hairs. But hey, better to get it right in

Bruce has given us all

a pretty good first attempt at photography – the only other thing to add would be to get Georgia to look into the lens when she takes her own photo, not at the digital display on the camera.

remove distracting elements from the image is a further improvement. The nostril distracts the viewers attention from eye. A little bit of cropping can take care of that – better still take more care to truly see the image before pressing the shutter. I think leaving some of those curves from the nose in the image adds a suggestion of the nose which can add a context for the eye.

NZ Photographer

the shot better, I think it’s

the camera first time. A tighter crop to OP2

Sept 30

examples of how to make

Camera: Canon Powershot SX200 IS Shutter Speed: 1/60th sec. Aperture: f/5.3 ISO: 640

BRUCE’s Comments: I love the composition of this shot and the way you’ve shot from almost at the subject’s shoulder. So many shots of kids are spoiled by unimaginative composition – shot from directly in front of the subject, with the head framed

OP1

in the middle then the child being told to smile (which interpreted into child-speak means “assume the fixed grimace”). Oh and did I mention often shot from an adult’s point of view looking down on the child. This shot suffers from none of these faults - the photographer has positioned themselves well, placing themselves on the child’s level and almost over the shoulder. The off-centre

OP1

framing adds a nice sense of line through the image – drawing the viewers eye from the warriors eyes down along his shoulder and arm. The path that your eye takes through an image is a very important factor in good composition. Try it. Take a look at the image and think about what your eyes see first. For me it’s the child’s eyes. My eyes then pass along the curve of the

OP2

shoulder to the bottom right of the image then back in a smooth arc along the line of the hat to the top left of the image. In this way, a composition that is pleasing to the eye and the human brain will take your eye on a smooth journey through the image. Contrast this to a badly composed image where you may find your eye darting from distracting element to distracting element. It’s a great candid moment, well composed by a little thought from the photographer, and better still it has authenticity – no cheesy grimace. IMG_2754.jpg

pretty well! Your original shot needs a bit of work though

Get your images critiqued by Professional Photographers

– I’d brighten it up, clone out the distracting piece of

– send an image to critique@nzphotographer.co.nz with a

string, and remove the almost-red-eye effect that your

brief description of how and why you took the shot,

flash has caused by darkening the pupils. Black and

and we’ll tell you what we think and if it could be Photographer Binoculars, care of our friends at Brand Storming Promotions!

white is also an interesting option for this shot, although IMG_2772.jpg

the original colours are great. (Tip – if you ever wonder what you could do with an image, try black and white!) Nicely done! You should send him a copy!

NZ Photographer

improved! You’ll win yourself this great pair of NZ IMG_2764.jpg

Ollies Comments: For a compact camera, you’ve done

Sept 30

IMG_2752.jpg

WINNING

n issue 4 we introduced you to Street

Art, and showed you some of the work of TrustMe and the Cut Collective. We

asked you to shoot a photo essay on street

art, and to illustrate it in an interesting way. Congratulations to Glenn Bittle for doing just that! Well done for shooting more than one piece of work, in what could be multiple locations! I loved the diversity of the images, and their very graphical, iconic photography! The only other thing I would’ve liked to have seen would have been a couple of images placing the street art in its surroundings.

I must also mention Richard Burson, who went out and stenciled his own street art onto the walls of Christchurch – good on you for going the extra mile. What let you and other photographers down was the similarity in your images – more locations, different lighting and other elements in your photos would have brought your images up. Glenn wins our cover of issue 6, plus this great NZ Photographer BBQ set from our mates at Brand Storming Promotions - To promote your business or to get something branded with your logo, check out their website at www.bsp.co.nz. Glenn also gets a canvas copy of the cover of Issue 6, thanks to PhotoNZ.com – get your favourite images printed on highquality canvas at almost any size! Order

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your canvas online at www.photonz.com.

Sept 30

Street

ESSAY Art

Sept 30

NZ Photographer

Win with NZ PHOTOGRAPHER Feast on our next essay competition theme, and eat up the fantastic prizes Theme:

Eating

Entry Deadline: 30th November, 2009 Winner Published: Issue 8, 2009

e spend a lot of our lives eating, and good food is great, so show us an essay on

food, eating, or anything related. This topic can be a lot of fun, so really get creative with your angles, subjects, and cropping.

Also, try the same shot with different lighting – think torches, candles, sunlight, flash light, etc.! Remember, plan your shots and send your best four to six images to essays@nzphotographer.co.nz If you didn’t read the article on how to shoot photo essays in the first issue you can download it here. Get your image in to win: •

* Be the cover of Issue 8!

•

* Have your best image printed on Canvas, thanks to PhotoNZ.com

•

* Plus, with summer just around the corner, get your greasy hands on this wicked BBQ set, care of our friends at Brand Storming Promotions

Essay Rules: •

You should enter four to six images per essay, and only if you are a subscriber to NZ Photographer.

•

Images should be sent through at full size, and can be on separate emails.

•

The images you enter must have been taken on or after October 21st 2009.

•

You as the photographer will retain all copyrights to the images. By entering your images you grant NZ Photographer a non-exclusive license to use the images in the magazine and on the website www.nzphotographer.co.nz

•

NZ Photographer will not sell or make available the images to any third party for any reason.

NZ Photographer

The judge’s decision is final, and is not open for debate. Sept 30

•

OCT

CALENDAR

EVENTS/EXHIBITIONS: Do you have an exhibition or photographic event on anywhere in NZ? Let us know at Calendar@nzphotographer.co.nz.

OCT 21

PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUBS Howick Camera Club

ADD

7.30pm. 1st, 3rd & 4th Mondays each

Lopd

month (excpet Dec and Jan).

We meet in the Howick Bridge Club in the

grounds of the Howick Recreation Center, on the Pakuranga Highway, just before the intersection with

www.howickcameraclub.org.nz

Car

for more information.

Mt A

Club President: Colin Tyler

each month. 1st Wed – Workshop Night

EVE 11

2nd Wed – Projected Image Assessment

Night 4th Wed – Print Assessment Night We meet in the Memorial Hall, City Library building, The Strand, Takapuna Club President: Kay Hook

Hutt Camera Club 7:45pm 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month For more information visit www.huttcameraclub.org.nz

List your photographic club or society here! Email clubs@nzphotographer.co.nz with details of who you are and when and where your next meeting is. Listing in this category is entirely free!

NZ Photographer Due Out! Issue 6

COMING SOON PSNZ Central Regional Convention

your camera and come along to a weekend full of fun,

Oct 30th, 31st, & Nov 1st

learning and entertainment. Everyone is welcome - you

Silverstream Retreat, Upper Hutt.

don’t need to be a member of the PSNZ to attend.

Great workshops, inspirational speakers, awesome field trips

Check out the convention blog on the website for all the

- something for everyone! Registrations are being accepted